In the North, the Chin is Revered: Assess Yours with Lao Yi's 'The Divine Mirror of Ma Yi: Ode to the Supernatural'

The previous issue focused on the idea that "Southern nobles are refined, often with broad foreheads," emphasizing how high-ranking officials and nobles in the south typically have broad foreheads. (You can click here to view the previous article.) In this issue, we'll discuss the latter part of the phrase: "Northern princes and nobles are recognized for their robust chins," indicating that in the north, princes and nobles often have well-defined chins.

What does it mean when we say "people from the north value their chins"? This is linked to the concept of the Bagua, where the north corresponds to the Kan trigram. The inherent position of Kan is Kun, which represents the earth. Therefore, in the north, greater importance is placed on the chin, which is associated with stability and practicality. Individuals with well-defined chins tend to be practical, stable, and are often successful. The Kun trigram symbolizes nurturing and encompassing qualities, so a calm demeanor and a practical approach are highly valued by northern people and relate to the trigram's position.

Northern people generally view the chin as more important than the forehead. Additionally, they often hold the belief that "great talents mature late." They typically face challenges in their youth, remain stable and practical, and do not seek recognition early. By valuing hard work and simplicity, they gradually build a foundation for the future and often gain recognition only after turning 40.

The chin symbolizes later-life fortune, typically having a greater impact when individuals reach their forties or fifties. For those with broad and robust chins, early success may be limited, but their focus on practicality, strong interpersonal skills, nurturing others, and management abilities often leads to success later in life. Thus, northern people tend to exhibit nobility, while southern individuals often achieve wealth. Wealth involves seizing opportunities early, while nobility is associated with achieving greatness later on.

However, with the changing dynamics of modern society and rapid global development, both the stability of the chin and the quick thinking related to the forehead have become significant. Therefore, if a northern person possesses a strong forehead along with a robust chin, they can potentially accelerate their path to success, transitioning from achieving greatness later in life to doing so in middle age.